[at-l] First Aid 101

[thornel at attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

At 01:28 AM 7/31/03 -0500, redhead@hack.net wrote:
>... And I'd hope a First Aid course would cover more than how to stabalize 
>until help comes. Because even on
>the AT, that could be awhile.

Red, you suggest that this isn't a good goal. "Stabilize" means to get 
control of a situation to the point that you either know what is going on, 
or that things aren't getting worse. That only sounds trivial. If someone 
falls off a ledge overlooking Hot Springs, you don't want to change a 
painful collapsed vertebrae into a dead hunk of friend by helping them sit 
up. You need to be prepared to help them wait whatever while it takes, 
knowing how to assess danger and reduce panic. You comfort and contain the 
victim, letting them know that you are boss until the cavalry arrives.

As a mother, you know a great deal about assessing falls, cuts, bruises, 
bleeding, GI events and things that make most guys retch or faint. You 
probably pack better and cleaner wound dressing that I do, in the guise of 
"feminine napkins" or tampons.

What you will learn in a basic first aid course (even Baby Sitting 101) is 
how to assess the situation, your limits and decide how to obtain 
additional help. A good part of first aid is learning the skills of 
signaling for help  - whistles, claps, lights, mirrors, smoke, cell phone, 
whatever. The skills used in dealing with ill and deceptive children will 
do well in first aid. Do not be too doubtful of your capacity for 
stabilization, or how difficult that task may become. You will find that 
you already have a treasure trove of tools at your disposal, some that just 
haven't been obvious.

In most first aid circumstances, you can choose to A) immobilize the 
victim, keep them warm and hydrated; B) Have the victim lie down, apply 
pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops, keep them warm and 
hydrated, C) Give the victim something to drink, sit or lie down in some 
shade and cool off, D) Apply a splint to the extremity, and keep the victim 
from going into shock by having them lie down, drink fluids and stay warm.

Can anyone else think of some other answers to general first aid events?

OrangeBug